Lusitania commemoration.....

On the 7th May 1915 the RMS Lusitania was torpedoed by U-20 approximately 15 kilometres due south of the Old Head of Kinsale. Of the nearly 2,000 passengers and crew, 1,195 lost their lives making it one of the greatest maritime tragedies of all time. 

The rescue efforts were co-ordinated from the nearby Royal Naval port of Queenstown (now Cobh). Many of the survivors and the recovered bodies of those who were lost were brought to Queenstown by local fisherman and others. On 10th May many of the dead were buried in mass graves in the Old Cemetery at Queenstown. 

Today that tragedy is commemorated in Cobh. This commemoration takes place on an annual basis and is organised by Cobh Tourism. It starts at the Old Church Cemetery where local historian, Jack Gilmartin, outlines the tragic events of that fateful day and in the days immediately afterwards. This is followed by another ceremony at the Lusitania monument in the main town square. 

Today, on the 98th anniversary of the ship's sinking, many hundreds attended. The ceremonies coincided with the visit of the Emerald Princess and as a result there were massive crowds in the town.

Here are a few pics of the ceremonies at the Lusitania monument:-